Welcome to Fairlie
Fairlie is a thriving farming town at the junction of Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury Coasts and the Inland Route to Lake Tekapo, Wanaka and Queenstown. The town offers a full range of accommodation and dining options within a friendly village atmosphere.
Fairlie is famous for
Hot Summers, Cold Winters, Lush Green Springs and Stunning Autumn Colours
From winter snow scenes and skiing at the three local skifields through spring’s lambs and the contrasting colours of cropping and grazing fields, to the hot nor-west summers cooling off in the town’s Opihi River and Lake Opuha, the Fairlie District offers photographic, artistic and recreational opportunities all the year round.
Lake Opuha
An earth dam built in the late 1990s to store water for irrigation and to generate electricity is situated at the head of the Opuha River Gorge, 12km from Fairlie. The resulting storage lake provides around 700 hectares of safe boating, swimming and fishing for locals and visitors alike.
Family Friendly Skifields
The skifields of Mt Dobson and Fox Peak are situated right in the heart of the Fairlie Basin, with Roundhill half an hour’s drive along the shores of Lake Tekapo. Equipment can be hired from the Ski Shack in Fairlie or from Mt Dobson and Roundhill skifields.
The Fairlie Heritage Museum
Home to a vast array of vintage tractors, machinery, horse drawn carriages and equipment from a bygone era. The Mabel Binney Cottage features household furnishings and memorabilia.
The Legend of James McKenzie
Sheep Rustler or innocent drover? Found with 1000 sheep from a Timaru station at an inland pass in 1855 Mackenzie was arrested for sheep stealing. He was granted a free pardon in 1856 after reinvestigation of the case. The event was responsible for the uptake of farming in the Mackenzie. Mackenzie Pass is now an alternative scenic route to the State Highway through Burkes Pass.
Award Winning Restaurants and Cafes
The town centre is set along the Main Street, retaining a village atmosphere from days gone by. From award winning restaurants to popular cafes, hearty pub meals and the local supermarket, Fairlie has a wide range of dining options, all within walking distance of town accommodation providers.
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Discover Mount Cook Mackenzie
![mtcook07_logotype[1]](./assets/images/mtcook07_logotype_1_.png "mtcook07_logotype[1]")
